With the season – and any prospect of Champions League qualification – disintegrating before our eyes, Celtic need a steady hand on the tiller now more than ever. And with the latest rumblings being that change is imminent, it seems like a reasonable time to assess some of the likely candidates to take on the job, even on a short-term basis.
Needless to say, that means that the key man must either not be in a managerial job, for a short-term appointment, or must be in a job he could be tempted to leave in favour of a Celtic that is being run like a church raffle.
Here are a few of the likely and not-so-likely lads to be in the frame.
Wim Jansen
Don't rule it out. Jansen's one and only season at Celtic ended in a famous league title win. To do so, he took a talented squad inherited from Tommy Burns and basically just organised them. The football was nothing special and the team eventually stumbled over the line – failing to win two consecutive league games from February to May. However, his back-to-basics approach might be just what Celtic need.
Verdict: Stranger things have happened
George Burley
Not everyone's ideal choice, not least because he has been thought of as favouring Glasgow's most debt-ridden club. However, having been constantly undermined by the Blue half of the Tennent's sports sponsorship, Burley would relish the chance to cement his credentials as a coach.
He understands Scottish football and don't forget that his Hearts team was top of the SPL when he was sacked.
Verdict: Could do worse
Csaba László
Another man sacked by Hearts, which is no indictment of his abilities, László would be keen to take the job and knows the current SPL teams intimately. In his time with Hearts, they sometimes went from the sublime to the ridiculous but he has at least demonstrated some tactical awareness and motivational abilities.
Verdict: “Age and height restrictions apply”
Willie McStay
Long been rumoured as being groomed for the job one day, his first stint as a manager, with Ujpest, has been encouraging. Ironically, will know little of the current crop of players and has not really shown anything to suggest that he would make a dramatic short-term difference.
Verdict: No-risk option
Howard Wilkinson
Yes, let's consider a few left-field candidates. Wilkinson is not everyone's cup of tea but his coaching credentials are impeccable and he is the current chair of the League Managers Association. Let's not forget that he is still the last English manager to have won the English title.
Verdict: Safe hands
Kenny Dalglish
The last manager to have won the English title with two clubs, Dalglish infamously played a part in the John Barnes “Dream Team” briefly taking over as caretaker before being sacked on the say-so of Martin O'Neill. Some were disappointed in his time as coach but, dealing with an often fractious dressing room he axed a few stars and fired warning shots across the bows of a few others. He also had no fear of the Scottish media.
Verdict: Doesn't need the hassle.
Graeme Souness
And why not? Because most of us still despise the man? Yes, okay, but he's just the sort of person people turn to when they are desperate, though he often makes things worse. Would have to beat the R-word twice and win both remaining trophies to gain supporters trust.
Verdict: Aye, sure!
John Collins
Surprised many with his short-term impact at Hibs, winning the CIS Cup but leaving after a short time. Would almost certainly want to appoint Tommy Craig for his famed abilities to coach in the “pressing” game.
Verdict: Decent outside bet
Mick McCarthy
Wouldn't be everyone's choice and his relegation fight with Wolves would draw parallels with Tony Mowbray. However, he did perform very well with the Republic of Ireland and clearly actually wants the job.
Verdict: Unlikely
Roy Keane
The shadow looms again. What's more important – to be a good manager or to be a close associate of Dermot Desmond? Had a near miraculous start to his managerial career with Sunderland, taking them from bottom of the Championship to division winners in a few months. However, from then on it has all come apart at the seams, much like his adventure holiday as a Celtic player. Has a record of signing appalling players and is currently doing his best to get Ipswich relegated. Has also shown himself to be a quitter when the going gets rough.
Verdict: More probable than any rational person would dare to imagine
Paul Lambert
Many rumours that the powers that be have discussed the possibility of Lambert taking over, perhaps with Henrik Larsson as an assistant. Does a record involving Norwich City, Wycombe Wanderers, Colchester United and Livingston really mean you could step up to be Celtic manager? He has many admirers amongst the Celtic fans, though largely those who wouldn't know a pass-back from a pie and Bovril.
Verdict: Cheap, populist option likely to end in even more tears.
Roy Hodgson
Aye, we know. He already has a job, in London with a Premiership club. Hodgson has been linked with the Celtic job many times and his recent criticism of the “sugar-daddy culture” of football surely makes Celtic, where daddy comes home drunk and eats every morsel in the house, the ideal step up. Believed to be of sound mind so his appointment is therefore admittedly unlikely.
Verdict: At least he's not Sam Allardyce
Co Adriaanse
Yes, let's give his name a run-out. He has been keen to manage Celtic in the past and is currently in one of those “technical advisor” roles that coaches have instead of calling themselves unemployed. A legendary disciplinarian with eccentric methods, he has experience in several countries and won the Portuguese title with FC Porto.
Verdict: Wouldn't be dull
Giovanni Trapattoni
Everyone wants Trapattoni. The current Republic of Ireland manager is currently being courted by Nigeria to guide their World Cup bid but who says he couldn't do any two or even three jobs?
While those who dismiss the possibility think his proponents are living in Cloud Cuckoo Land, most have forgotten one thing: his wages in his current job are being partly covered by an Irish businessman; one Denis O'Brien.
And in what club do you think O'Brien currently holds about a 3% stake?
Verdict: Intriguing prospect
Slaven Bilić
One of the hot tips when Celtic decided to offer the job to Owen Coyle and then Tony Mowbray, Bilić has time on his hands, having recently failed to take Crotia to the World Cup. Very highly rated and thought to be destined for great things, he has nevertheless, never managed a club side but is an excellent organiser, tactician and motivator.
Verdict: Fate decrees otherwise
Leo Beenhakker
Another of the men perennially linked to our job and everyone else's, Beenhakker's recent failure with Poland did nothing to inspire confidence though he remains one of the outstanding coaches of his era. Famously decided enough was enough with our very own Artur Boruc and was described as a disaster for Polish football, which surely made the ears of our Financial Director, Eric Reilly, prick.
Verdict: Would revel in our Dutch defensive abilities
Mark McGhee
Yes, we know. This is what will probably happen. A solid Celtic man who played well for us, McGhee's famed lack of loyalty would ensure that he wouldn't hesitate to run out of Pittodrie without even checking that he had switched the chip pan off. You can tell that he scents an opportunity by his continuing reference to being a Celtic fan, though he would just as quickly manage the Huns, if given a chance.
Verdict: More than likely
Davie Moyes
Practically asked for the job in the summer but, given that he is one of the best British managers in the game, our leaders immediately discounted him from the running. Having seen what is happening with recruitment, he would probably have second thoughts about taking on the job but would be a wonderful appointment.
Verdict: Too good to be true
Mark Hughes
One of those much-touted British managers who has never really matched the hype with measurable achievements, Hughes is, however, conveniently out of work. There is every chance that he could turn the fortunes of the team around with the application of some common sense and a short-term project might appeal to him. However, there would then be the risk that he would be successful and the board would be under pressure to try to keep him, which would fill them with fear.
Verdict: Wouldn't say no
Steve McLaren
Gave us some great laughs as England manager, having been appointed on the basis of a mediocre record with Middlesbrough but McLaren has proved a point about his managerial abilities with an excellent performance in charge of FC Twente. Whether or not he would learn the language as well has he has mastered Dutch remains to be seen but the loveable prat of English football is clearly not a daft as he strives so successfully to appear.
Verdict: Bring your brolly, Steve
Artur Jorge
“... will today be named as Celtic's head coach, ending a ten-week search for the man to take the club into a new era.”
Verdict: Hugh Keevins vindicated at last.
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